Eastern Hiking

By Erica Obey and George Baird Schunemunk Mountain is the highest in Orange County, at 1,664 feet. Despite its relatively modest height, it’s a reasonably tough mountain, which may explain why it was reputed to be a Lenape stronghold called “Maringamus’ Castle,” as well as the last refuge of Tory outlaws such as Jacob Rose (Roosna), as well as the ... Read More »

by Dave Holden Happy Cold, Snowy New Year to one and all. As the temperatures struggle to come out of the single digits, and as we unbury ourselves from the first snow-storm of 2014, it is pretty obvious now that this will be a classic southeast Catskills winter. Here in Waghkonk (or, sometimes, Awagkonk – the old, original name for ... Read More »

By Dave Holden As the polar winds of change plunge over the southeast Catskills (along with much of the United States), freezing all before them and casting frosty whiteness about, there can no longer be any doubt that another northern winter is upon us. The desiccated and dried husks of last seasons’ Beebalm, Goldenrod, and Milkweed, bent by those gusts, ... Read More »

By Dave Holden What a difference a few weeks can make! It seems like just yesterday that we were on that magical, bright rainbow-hued cusp of late summer and early autumn where the leaves were newly-turned and brightly-colored. There was still a hint of summerwarmth. Now, much of the brightness has faded from the dried husks of 2013 and cooler, ... Read More »

By George Baird and Erica Obey The legend of the Catskill Witch is as old as the gnomes playing at ninepins or the Headless Horseman, having made her first appearance as a postscript to Washington Irving’s tale of Rip van Winkle, where she is described as dwelling on the highest peak of the Catskills, and had charge of the doors ... Read More »